People in my community often associate my name with my musical achievements. I began learning piano with amateur tutors when I was five, but could not read music until I took formal lessons four years later. By practicing two hours daily, I recorded a CD and attained Advanced Level of the Certificate of Merit all by the age of twelve.
However, multiple setbacks dwindled my passion for music. My short fingers limited me from choosing repertoire that older students could play, so my parents constantly labeled me as the worst among my peers. After receiving a harsh score of zero at my first competition, I was convinced that my parents were right. I gradually became afraid of failure and avoided all competitive performances.
As I considered quitting, I auditioned for Steinway Artist Dr. Natsuki Fukasawa. We rebuilt my entire technical foundation, but I learned to genuinely appreciate music for the first time. After conquering my fears, I earned Third Place at the state-wide Ghiglieri Competition and received a $200 scholarship from the CSU Stanislaus music department. In August 2018, I won Second Prize in the Global Best Debussy Performance Competition. A month later, I received another scholarship from the American Guild of Organists who sponsored me to learn the organ with a University of the Pacific professor. Most recently, I won First Prize at the online Masters of Piano Sonata Competition 2018 and First Prize at the online Best Beethoven Performance Competition 2018.
Nonetheless, I strive to impact others through music. For four years, I was the piano accompanist for the vocal groups at my middle and high schools. I contacted senior homes and performed sing-along concerts for Alzheimer’s patients during special gatherings. I have been tutoring students in keyboard theory since I was thirteen, and even formed my own piano enrichment camp this past summer.
In retrospect, music was not an innate talent for me. I came from a non-musical family and worked continuously for twelve years to reach where I am today, so I will always consider piano to be my greatest accomplishment.
I will be continuing my education in the fall of 2019 at the University of California, Berkeley to study Immunology and Pathogenesis.
